NBA All-Star Game MVP Highlights: 2000 to 2012

All-Star games are usually where players come out to play completely uninhabited. They are just out to have fun and score playground style. And the best part: you get to see things you don’t see in a regular game.

ORLANDO, FL – FEBRUARY 26: (L-R) LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat and the Eastern Conference talks with Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Western Conference during the 2012 NBA All-Star Game at the Amway Center on February 26, 2012 in Orlando, Florida.

Check out the highlights of the MVPs in All-Star games from 2000 to 2012. Of the players in the All-Star game this weekend, Kobe Bryant has won the MVP award the most number of times with 4, one of those was tied with Shaq in 2009, but he has a chance to make a record this time; more on that below.

2000West 137-126 East

MVP: Tim Duncan and Shaquille O’ NealHosted by Oakland.

Duncan and Shaq combined for 46 points and 23 rebounds in this one.

2001West 110-111 East

MVP: Allen IversonHosted by Washington.

This is one of the best All-Star games ever. East trailed 95-74 with nine minutes left, then Iverson happened. He scored 15 points in the final stretch to mount a comeback.

2002West 135-120 East

MVP: Kobe BryantHosted by Philadelphia.

Watch Nash dish to Bryant here. Who would have thought one day these two would be team-mates? Kobe had 31 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in this one. This was the last All-Star game in which players wore their team jerseys.

2003

West 155-145 East

MVP: Kevin GarnettHosted by Atlanta.

Garnett had a game high 37 points with 9 rebounds and 3 assists.This was also Michael Jordan’s final All-Star game.

2004West 136-132 East

MVP: Shaquille O’NealHosted by LA.

Shaq had 24 points and 11 rebounds in this one.

2005West 125-115 East

MVP: Allen IversonHosted by Denver.

The last time before this when the East won the All-Star game was back in 2001, when Iverson was the MVP. AI had 15 points, 9 assists and 5 steals this time around. No player scored more than 20 in this All-Star game.

2006West 122-120 East

MVP: LeBron JamesHosted by Houston.

LeBron had 29 points and 6 rebounds to win this MVP award.

2007West 153-132 East

MVP: Kobe BryantHosted by Las Vegas.

Kobe had 31 points and 6 assists to win MVP.

2008West 134-128 East

MVP: LeBron JamesHosted by New Orleans.

James had 27 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists to win the MVP.

2009West 146-119 East

MVP: Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’NealHosted by Phoenix.

Bryant had 27 and Shaq added 17 as the two former teammates were the co-MVPs in this one.

2010West 141-139 East

MVP: Dwyane WadeHosted by Dallas.

Wade had 28 points, 11 assists, 6 rebounds and 5 steals to win the MVP award.

2011West 148-143 East

MVP: Kobe BryantHosted by LA.

Fittingly, played in LA, Kobe won the MVP after scoring 37 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. He’s tied with Bob Pettit for most All-Star MVP awards with four. Another reason he may go extra hard this year to break the tie.

2012West 152-149 East

MVP: Kevin DurantHosted by Orlando.

Kevin Durant had 36 points, as did LeBron James, but the West won so Durant deservedly got the award.